Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, MP for Sherwood Park Alberta, brought this petition out, on behalf of his constituents…and good on him, and great for those who got in on signing this petition.
I’ve had a lot of others bring this part of the new budget to my attention and haven’t really commented much on it because my comments on supplements are probably not what most people want to hear.
For the most part, I don’t believe that there is much benefit to the majority of them…especially if you are opting for a cleaner diet and healthier lifestyle. The amount of supplements that people take has gotten quite out of hand and I don’t think that a lot of people are relying on much more information about them than are about the prescriptions they take.
I say this as somebody who was a Staunch Supporter of supplements.
My purchases on these, in just pure bulk form is in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, each one taken, meticulously researched - not based on anecdotal information from people and websites who sell supplements - actual scientific studies.
In this and for the most part, I believe that what most supplementation ends up as is expensive pee because people are taking more than your body would have ever been exposed to on a natural level throughout the history of evolution…and I just don’t believe that there is much benefit to this.
With that being said…there are a number of supplements that can be beneficial that the government has No Right to regulate nor Tax Harder…for the sake of taxing harder while shilling for Pharmaceuticals.
Interestingly enough…an example of this that I tripped across a Tweet this evening that brought up one very large point on pharmaceuticals…Most specific to Anti-Depressants. If you’re not on one, you know a lot of others who are and given the current conditions caused by the Liberal/NDP government, it’s hard to Not be Depressed, consequently making you seek out anti-depressants.
Say What?
This is interesting because it’s some of the earliest research into ayurveda that I dug into - past my studies on Fenugreek and it’s properties in helping to ease GI issues.
Not to dive in too deep here…but when you are fat and have a terrible diet, consume a lot of bread, pastas and beer…and aren’t quite that active, you get GI issues with come with a plethora of other side-effects, one of them being Depression.
Depression is caused by a number of different things and while I don’t believe that we still have ALL of the correct information on them, there are a number of ways of combating these that don’t come with a plethora of side-effects or addiction.
SSRI - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
SNRI - Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
And of course, what should also be defined here is “What the Hell does Ayurveda mean?”
Ayurveda - is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, versions and other observational studies coming from China.
Ayurveda is early science that relied on observation - anecdotal information - vs the Pharmacology of Today, which relies on building blocks of chemical studies and their potential for interaction inside of the human body.
You see…most pharmacology starts off at an animal level - testing on rats - before makes it to Human Trials. By the time it hits Human Trials, it’s my belief that as long as it’s proven ‘in theory’ and doesn’t maim or kill a lot of animals or people, getting these to pass regulations isn’t all that tough.
(Think about what we just went through with COVID Vaccines)
Where as Ayurveda was noticing what people consumed and studied the benefits of these items, narrowed down over hundreds of years, and relayed by people who were more committed to healing than were to prosperity - ACTUAL SCIENCE!
A good example of this is Epimedium - also known as Barrenwort.
Observation was that Goats that hung out in and consumed Epimedium were a lot more promiscuous in nature and it’s now taken for people who want to spice up their intimate time…and because of its association and observations around, it’s still found under the name “Horny Goat Weed”.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaanyways…
In my studies I’d come across a couple of different Ayurvedic Supplements that can help reduce symptoms of depression, while being perfectly natural, have minimal side-effects - that coincidentally are also used as Anti-Histamines.
Ashwagandha - an adaptogen used for anxiety, stress, nervous exhaustion, adrenal burnout, depression and insomnia…contains a compound called Withaferin A. Withaferin A has been shown to prevent mast cells from releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators.
Rhodiola Rosea - an adrenal adaptogen has the potential to modulate the release of cortisol and indirectly helps to support a balanced histamine response. Interesting note about Rhodiola - Alberta is one of the top leading suppliers of cultivated Rhodiola - in the WORLD!
Imagine that…a plant you’d probably never heard of…that fights allergic reactions…has been studied for hundreds of years at stress reduction and battling depression, is RIGHT HERE IN ALBERTA!
Now try and imagine how pissed off I was to have imported this shit from the US, paying massive shipping costs and exchange, when the the Rhodiola I got was probably from Alberta to begin with!!
Same/similar with Fenugreek…you can buy this in capsules from health-food stores or online…it’ll run ya about $20/Month…or you can buy it as a bulk herb in the Ethnic Food Aisle at Superstore for less than $2.
The point is…While I may not be 100% sold on the multibillion dollar Supplement Industry, given the potential for benefits with the low risks of side-effects and addictive properties of pharmaceuticals…regulating one while giving free-rein to the other is bullshit!
Good Job, Garnett.
Great Job, Albertans!
Government Control on Supplements...